Warrior Givet wins Kean praise

Blackburn boss Steve Kean paid tribute to "warrior" Gael Givet after the French defender's winner over Newcastle in the final minute of extra-time in an extraordinary Carling Cup match.

Rovers triumphed 4-3 - but the Magpies had come from 2-0 down to send the game into extra time before Givet's last-gasp header.

Kean said: "Gael Givet encapsulates the whole spirit we have got here - he had a hamstring nick but would not come off. He's a warrior, he has put his head where other people wouldn't put their feet. He was fantastic."

He added: "We had worked so hard to get a clean sheet so when their first goal went in it was a horrible feeling. It's tough mentally when they scored so late to go and score again but we did it.

"We are always going to score goals but we have been working day in, day out defensively so that when we lose possession we get a good shape."

Newcastle manager Alan Pardew praised his players for refusing to give up the fight and queried some of referee Robert Madley's decisions - in particular rejecting a Demba Ba penalty claim and then awarding one against keeper Tim Krul.

Pardew said: "I don't like the tag of gallant losers but it was a fantastic effort and the fans would have appreciated the effort we have put in.

"It was a game that had some strange parts to it. We lacked urgency in the first half and I was a little disappointed but after that I couldn't fault my team, I thought we were excellent.

"Some times events just go against you and events certainly did tonight.

"To go 2-0 down was galling as we were bossing the game at that point and we had had a couple of (penalty) shouts. I thought when Demba turned (Chris) Samba it was a penalty, then at the other end Tim plays the ball and is penalised."